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University of Liverpool, Department of Public Health
[top] [end]Full organisation contact detailsDepartment of Public HealthUniversity of Liverpool Whelan Building Quadrangle Liverpool L69 3GB Tel: +44 (0)151 794 5576 Fax: +44 (0)151 794 5588 [top] [end]Main contact person
[top] [end]Background, mission and goalsThe Department of Public Health is home to a multi-disciplinary team drawn from a range of subjects including medical and health sciences, epidemiology, sociology, community development, policy analysis, statistics, civic design and history. It is actively involved in research, education and health service work related to promoting the health of the public. Located within the School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine (from September 2004), the Department has close working links with many other disciplines across the University and in the wider public health community. The Departmental aims are to contribute to the improvement and maintenance of the health of people, locally, nationally and internationally, through: excellence in education and research the development of a learning environment that encourages staff and students to fulfil their potentialthe formation of constructive links with the local and wider community, contributing to local, regional, national and international developments.[top] [end]Approach, organisational programmes and activitiesThe Department of Public Health contributes actively to the following research themes:
The Department makes a substantial contribution to undergraduate medical education. We also run a postgraduate taught programme in Public Health (MSc, Dip Ed, Cert Ed), and active MD and Phd programmes. The Department encompasses a number of linked units, including the Liverpool Public Health Observatory, Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Registry, EQUAL (Equity in Health Research Development Unit), IMPACT (International Health Impact Assessment Consortium) and provides expertise and technical support for a range of NHS based public health work in the North West. [top] [end]Examples of past successes and experienceCurrent activities include[top] [end]Health Impacts of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP)We are conducting a randomised controlled trial of an improved stove (plancha) in the Guatemalan highlands, designed to assess the impact of reduced IAP exposure on incidence of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children aged up to 18 months, and on the respiratory health of their mothers. Fieldwork is due to be completed in early 2005.The project is funded by NIH (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), World Health Organisation and Norwegian Research Council. This collaborative project involves the following partners:
Technical and financial support is being provided by WHO, from the departments of Child and Adolescent Health and Development, and Protection of the Human Environment.Further information about the project is available at: http://ehs.sph.berkeley.edu/guat/ [top] [end]Development and Evaluation of Household Energy InterventionsThrough a number of collaborative activities, we are developing and carrying out evaluation of the impact of a wide range of stove, fuel and other interventions intended to decrease IAP exposure and other health risks, and promote social and economic development. These include:Shell Foundation HEH projects in India, Mexico and Guatemala. DFID funded projects, managed by ITDG, in Kenya, Sudan and Nepal. This work is seeking sustainability through encouragement of community participation in the development of appropriate interventions, and the promotion of local markets, skills development and the availability of credit to poor homes. At national level, forums are being established in each country with broad representations to press for the development of appropriate policy at national level. Evaluation includes the assessment of changes in air pollution and exposure and other factors expected to impact on health and socio-economic development. [top] [end]Information and Policy Development[top] [end]SparknetWe are one of four northern partners in this project, which is seeking to develop policy on household energy for the rural and urban poor in seven Southern African countries, through an EU-funded knowledge network. Work to date includes the development of an on-line database for each country, briefing papers on the key themes include health, gender, and forestry, and information on key actors and case studies. For further information see www.sparknet.info[top] [end]Prioritisation of Information and Research NeedsWorking with the Global Forum for Health Research, we are developing methods for identifying priority research for decreasing the health impacts of indoor air pollution. Following a review of this topic presented at Forum 5 in 2001, we are carrying out a study with national and local stakeholder groups in Kenya to test these methods in a national context.[top] [end]Image and Information ResourceWe are currently developing an image and information resource for public health, with a focus on the environment. This includes a growing collection of images on household energy and related environment, health and development issues. Website: www.healthimagelink.com | |
Page created:
19 July 2004; Last edited:
14 March 2007; Version: 4 | |
Pagename: UniversityOfLiverpool @HEDON: XHBA | |
